Content Specialist (Emotional First Aid for Peers and Frontline Workers of the Drug Poisoning Crisis)

Content Specialist (Emotional First Aid for Peers and Frontline Workers of the Drug Poisoning Crisis)

Position name: EFA Content Specialist 

Reports to: EFA Program Manager  

Department:   National Training Team

Location: Remote / Hybrid 

Status:  Full Time

Salary Range: $60,000 - $70,000

The Opportunity
As a Content Specialist you will be at the forefront of our Emotional First Aid for Peers and Frontline Workers of the Drug Poisoning Crisis (EFA) project team. Your role will be pivotal in designing, developing, and refining evidence-based mental health training content to address the unique needs of peers and frontline workers supporting the drug poisoning crisis in Canada. 

What this Position Involves: 
As an EFA Content Specialist, you will work within a multidisciplinary team responsible for creating, implementing, and evaluating St. John Ambulance’s Health Canada funded initiative, the Emotional First Aid for Peers and Frontline Workers of the Drug Poisoning Crisis. You will have a strong foundation in research and evidence-based writing, with a background in mental health, substance use, and/or community-based programs.  

Our Mission
St. John Ambulance is a humanitarian organization and is a member of the international Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem (Order of St. John). This non-profit organization has operated in Canada since 1883 with a mission to improve people’s health, safety, and quality of life through training and community services. St. John Ambulance instructors provide first aid and CPR training to over 500,000 people in Canada each year, and its volunteers provide millions of hours of community service across Canada. All proceeds from training and product sales fund St. John Ambulance’s community services, such as Medical First Response, Therapy Dog Services, Disaster Response and youth programming.   

About the EFA Program: 
Funded by Health Canada, St. John Ambulance has been granted a unique opportunity to provide mental health training to peers and frontline workers who assist individuals using drugs and face direct and/or vicarious trauma in their professional and community roles. This program aims to meet critical needs surrounding mental wellness as it applies to peers and frontline workers of the drug poisoning crisis, with a focus on providing tools to promote resiliency and reducing the impact of grief and burnout in the frontline workforce.

Why You’ll Love Working with Us:

Impactful Work: Your contributions will directly improve the safety and well-being of others.
Innovative Environment: We encourage creativity and innovation in all our training programs.
Professional Growth: Opportunities for continuous learning and development.
Supportive Team: Collaborate with enthusiastic and resolute professionals.
A Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion: SJA is dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive, and we actively support diversity, equity, and inclusion.

What You Will be Doing:

Designing Impactful Content:

• Research, write, and curate evidence-based training content that meets instructional and program objectives. 
• Collaborate with the EFA project team and the Peer Advisory Committee to edit and refine training content based on feedback.

Learning Design and Development:

• Work with instructional designers to develop engaging and accessible content for live virtual and e-learning training modules. Ensure courses align with EFA project objectives.
• Create interactive activities, quizzes, and multimedia components to enhance learner engagement.
• Ensure course materials align with program objectives, current best practices, and adult learning principles.

Collaborating with Stakeholders:

• Partner with subject matter experts (SMEs), training teams, and advisory councils to develop and refine evidence-based course content.
• Provide training and support to EFA instructors and team members in understanding and effectively delivering training materials.

What we are looking for: 

Personal Attributes:

• Deep empathy and understanding of the drug poisoning crisis in Canada, and a willingness to help those directly and indirectly impacted by the crisis.  
• Collaborative mindset and ability to work effectively with multidisciplinary teams.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and capable of working autonomously to meet deadlines.
• Dynamic personality with excellent interpersonal skills to build and maintain relationships with stakeholders.
• Fluency in English is required. French language verbal and written skills are highly desirable

Essential Skills and Experience:

• Strong knowledge of mental health, substance use, and harm reduction practices (educational or professional experience required).
• Experience developing training materials, curricula, or e-learning content for diverse audiences (e.g., peers, frontline workers, health professionals).
• Proven ability to translate peer-reviewed research and clinical guidelines into practical, accessible training materials.
• Familiarity with evidence-based practices such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), trauma-informed care, or harm reduction approaches.
• Exceptional written communication skills, with attention to detail and scientific integrity.
• Expertise in designing and structuring training modules for diverse audiences.
• Experience in harm reduction, grief and loss, or resilience-building programs.

Preferred Skills:

• Knowledge of instructional design, adult learning principles, and e-learning best practices.
• Familiarity with peer support and frontline worker challenges in contexts such as the drug poisoning crisis or other high-trauma environments.
• Familiarity with Indigenous mental health practices and cultural safety principles.
• Ability to incorporate storytelling and real-world scenarios into training to enhance relevance and engagement.
• Advanced working knowledge of tools like Microsoft Office Suite,  OneDrive, Planner, Microsoft Teams and Zoom (essential).

Working Conditions:
 

• Overtime and schedule flexibility may be required from time to time
• Some travel within Canada may be required
• SJA offers a competitive salary, group benefits program and employee pension plan

How to Apply:
Inspired by our mission? We’d love to hear from you and see how you can help us achieve our goals. Please submit your resume through the following Indeed link for consideration: https://ca.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=84bc3a586f43cd39&from=shareddesktop.

While SJA thanks all candidates for their interest, only those candidates whose skills and experience most closely match the position requirements will be contacted and invited for interviews. SJA is an equal Opportunity Employer.